Application of fuzzy cognitive maps to drug administration risk management.

The management of drug therapy, like many medical processes, has a high complexity level. Many errors occur carrying out drug management activities since many decisions have to be taken by operators and many people are involved. These errors can occur at any stage of the drug management, from the entering into the health unit, up to the medication itself. In order to understand the cognitive mechanisms that influence these errors fuzzy cognitive maps were used in this study. Fuzzy cognitive maps allowed the authors to highlight the cognitive mechanisms that influence human decisions in drug management. Using fuzzy cognitive maps, the main factors that affect predominantly the course of drug therapy have been highlighted, until the final event: the medication itself. The construction of the cognitive map has been used to start a process of awareness that improved the patient safety.